How come that VW "upgraded" the receiver? Also, why are the Cayenne's stickers show a 616 lbs tongue weight rating? Aren't they all the same Westfalia build parts or are there distinct differences? If they are all the same, why the differences in rating? The tow capacity of the cars is identical at 7,600 lbs I believe, right?

Let me explain what I have learned so far in towing my 25FB with an Audi Q7. For those reading this post that do not know, the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and VW Touareg are all built on the same platform and can use similar engines, transmissions and suspensions. I work for Audi and have inspected the underpinnings of all three in the last month. Our Shop Foreman worked for ,and was trained by, Audi AG in Germany for 10 years. In a prior post it was mentioned that the Can-Am method of bracing would put stresses on components that were not designed for it. This is absolutely true. A long phone call to one of his engineer friends at Audi in Germany confirmed this and also explained how WD hitches actually work. Because of this I have been working to get the tongue weight down near the 661# that the hitch is rated for instead. "Weight Distributing Hitch# is a misnomer. They do not transfer weight. They transfer load. The tongue weight remains the same. What happens is the load is transferred in order to bring the TV and trailer to level and thereby provide optimum braking and handling, especially in emergency situations. I bought a tire storage bag with handle and move the spare under the rear dinette (-52#) and then put it in the back of the Audi while camped. I removed one of the propane bottles (-55#) when I discovered how little was used just running the refrigerator and water heater. I am planning to replace the batteries with AGM units and mount them under the rear dinette storage area (-90#). You need to add the weight of the WD hitch head, in my case 60#. That will puts me at 695# (832-197+63). I ordered a Sureline Tongue weight scale to be more exact. I believe that by repositioning things while towing I can get to the amount that the hitch is rated for and be above the 10% recommended hitch weight for the trailer (5500# plus 800# of gear and water. I believe this is the safest way to go about it.

So if you go with all the recommendation, why is a WD system then needed as this is also not recommended. I see the point about putting stress on the attachment point under the car. Would be interesting to hear Andy's thoughts on this. But would this not mean that the metal bar is being bend by the extra load when in normal use? What would the load be because the main load will still be with the original receiver attachment structure - I guess it is difficult to measure. Also, in the real world, have people towing with this modification experienced issues?

The sticker on the factory installed Q7 hitch shows Max Tongue Weight 661, WD 661, Weight Carrying 661, so it safe to say that they allow WD hitches as long as the tongue weight does not exceed 661#. The WD Hitch, or more correctly referred to as "Anti-Sway Hitch" is a very useful tool in leveling out the trailer and TV so that the braking and handling are improved and made more safe as I understand it.

Different years have/had different tow ratings - more earlier & less now - probably more to do with CYA on warranties than anything else, since the mechanicals are close enough between the years/series of the 3 T/C/Q, but the longer 3-row seats Q7 is heavier, so it makes sense it would be less than the T/C cousins.

Some of the USA mid-2000's Cayenne owners manuals & service manuals show 2 ratings - weight bearing & distributed with the latter higher for HW.

In Euro-land they don't allow WD hitches largely due to political manuevers, so they build smaller & lighter & less sturdy trailers instead. ...well that makes perfect sense to me! ...not!!!

There is an accepted US SAE or other US official tow rating test scheme which requires the TV to pull up hill, stop downhill, etc. to certain standards, & Porsche has rated their Cayennes with it for several years now - I think since 2006 or 2008 IIRC. I'd guess that VW & Audi do the same. But that doesn't restrict them from downsizing whatever they pass at. I don't think that any of the Big 3 rate their vaunted trucks with this official standard, but I think it becomes a requirement in 2016 or 2020.

The German TUV (like US-DOT) has had tow rating standards & testing to qualify since the 1970s or 1980s, & the German mfgrs all have to get their tow ratings approved by them for the Euro applications. That's how the Porsche 928 (V8) was rated to tow up to 4100# & change in private TV use for TT, HTs, etc. (i.e. not for commercial trailers, which were limited to about 3500# IIRC). Porsche had tow mirrors, tow bar & electricals (Euro) in the 928 options & accessories catalogs.

I suggest using the rating for the TV of these 3 cousins that you own/buy, but WD is NOT a problem with or without the hitch reinforcement, but do check the whole hitch assy. regularly - which you're supposed to be doing on any TV anyway!

Also note that the factory hitch for these 3 also need to be programmed into the vehicles' computers, & then it automatically sets the trans remapping & engine parameters into the tow mode whenever you hitch up (similar to pushing the tow button on the shift lever of F150s, but it's automatic). As far as I know, the aftermarket hitches will not do this, but I'm not positive - & that's part of why the factory units are more than a Reese or Uhaul etc..

So if you self-install the factory hitch package, take it to the dealer to have it reset (or an independent with the proper equipment & knowledge).

Sunset Porsche in FL sells the Porsche Cayenne hitches for a better price than most dealers - unless you force them into a price match - & they may also sell the factory T-reg & Q7 hitches too.

LOL - Very clever the way this "Big Truck" type sneaks in the F150 advert by leading it with "... so we tried all the Euro-diesels ...."!!

Even when the OP starts a thread asking not to go off hijacking this Cay/T-reg/Q7 thread, there always has to be the invasion of the big truck only crowd! Same thing happened when I started a thread asking for Cayenne tow folks for experience & didn't mind at all a few MBZ & Bmer folks in addition to these 3 cousins - but the big truck only crowd needs to get couseling or a 12 step - I mean really!

OK - so she's a big truck gal now, go sell them on the F150 thread please & leave this to the C/T/Q interested folks!

That's my 2 cents!
Tom
///////

Quote:

Originally Posted by RivetingTrvl

We have never done as much research for a vehicle as we did for the TV for our 2013 Int'l Sig 30FB.

Didn't like the pickup truck route, so we tried all the Euro-diesels & Jeep GC ecodiesel. Had a deposit on a GL-350, when I (the wife) reluctantly decided to bite the bullet and go look at a 2015 F150 EcoBoost. It had the most beautiful panoramic moonroof! It matched the Airstream! It not only had heated seats -- it had AIR-CONDITIONED seats! So much floor room in the back seat for our 2 littles. Not to mention the cool disco colors you can choose for the interior ambient lights.

Not to be all fluffy, the truck comes with awesome bells and whistles that make it super easy for towing our 30' AS -- integrated brake controller and exterior lights.

Ultimately, it was a joint decision to choose the TV, but DH wanted to be certain that I was happy with it and I love driving it! Never thought I'd be a Ford Truck Girl -- EVER!

Let me explain what I have learned so far in towing my 25FB with an Audi Q7. For those reading this post that do not know, the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and VW Touareg are all built on the same platform and can use similar engines, transmissions and suspensions. I work for Audi and have inspected the underpinnings of all three in the last month. Our Shop Foreman worked for ,and was trained by, Audi AG in Germany for 10 years. In a prior post it was mentioned that the Can-Am method of bracing would put stresses on components that were not designed for it. This is absolutely true. A long phone call to one of his engineer friends at Audi in Germany confirmed this and also explained how WD hitches actually work. Because of this I have been working to get the tongue weight down near the 661# that the hitch is rated for instead. "Weight Distributing Hitch# is a misnomer. They do not transfer weight. They transfer load. The tongue weight remains the same. What happens is the load is transferred in order to bring the TV and trailer to level and thereby provide optimum braking and handling, especially in emergency situations. I bought a tire storage bag with handle and move the spare under the rear dinette (-52#) and then put it in the back of the Audi while camped. I removed one of the propane bottles (-55#) when I discovered how little was used just running the refrigerator and water heater. I am planning to replace the batteries with AGM units and mount them under the rear dinette storage area (-90#). You need to add the weight of the WD hitch head, in my case 60#. That will puts me at 695# (832-197+63). I ordered a Sureline Tongue weight scale to be more exact. I believe that by repositioning things while towing I can get to the amount that the hitch is rated for and be above the 10% recommended hitch weight for the trailer (5500# plus 800# of gear and water. I believe this is the safest way to go about it.

A session on the CAT scales or similar will show that the load - measured in axle wt. - is transferred from the TV's rear axle to the TT's axle(s) & the TV's front axle in order to even out the load & keep adequate weight on the TV's front axle for adequate steering & braking performance. To do so, the WD hitch system's torsion (spring) bars push up on the TV's receiver/hitch assy. to torsion that weight forward to the TV front axle (& aft to the TT axle) - so I would posit that - yes - it does reduce the weight or downward pressure on the hitch.

VW/Audi/Porsche do not do so in many cases, but they did in some documentation which I mentioned above, which was supplied by another member here who is a certified Porsche Tech (same guy who warned about damage to rear suspension sub-assy.), at this link....

At that post I started, there was a lot of great input from others on here who were very experienced in towing with the C/T/Q trio & MBZ & BMW, as well as some of my research into what we want to get for our own TV (vs. the current rental route since 2012). It may be worth a read for some reading this one, if you can put up with my incessant dribble .... but then, it was my topic to dribble on about! ;-)

LOL - Very clever the way this "Big Truck" type sneaks in the F150 advert by leading it with "... so we tried all the Euro-diesels ...."!!

Even when the OP starts a thread asking not to go off hijacking this Cay/T-reg/Q7 thread, there always has to be the invasion of the big truck only crowd! Same thing happened when I started a thread asking for Cayenne tow folks for experience & didn't mind at all a few MBZ & Bmer folks in addition to these 3 cousins - but the big truck only crowd needs to get couseling or a 12 step - I mean really!

OK - so she's a big truck gal now, go sell them on the F150 thread please & leave this to the C/T/Q interested folks!

That's my 2 cents!
Tom
///////

Tom,

Sorry! I didn't mean to offend! I was just simply sharing my insignificant experience. I'm not a BIG TRUCK ONLY kinda gal -- I'm a middle-aged yuppy housewife who just happened to realize that the truck has its advantages. I'm not trying to sell them, for goodness sakes! I thought we were going to get a euro-diesel for months and just happened to try out the truck for S&Gs.

Sorry! I didn't mean to offend! I was just simply sharing my insignificant experience. I'm not a BIG TRUCK ONLY kinda gal -- I'm a middle-aged yuppy housewife who just happened to realize that the truck has its advantages. I'm not trying to sell them, for goodness sakes! I thought we were going to get a euro-diesel for months and just happened to try out the truck for S&Gs.

No reason to get your panties in a wad.
Michelle

Michelle,

No offense was taken & no wads, I just got a giggle out of how you lead in with the Euro TV research - & ergo I led with an LOL.

I just tire of the religious fervor big truck only crowd, when they try to hammer it as the only way to tow.

My wife & I are in our 60s & grew up with pick-ups, but they don't fit our needs given a very tight & narrow driveway at our 1921 house, & narrow streets in our Old Towne Orange district here.

I really can only open the door of the pick-ups we've been renting about 1/4 - 1/3 open due to the close wall next door. Besides, my wife won't drive a big ole truck as they exist today - much bigger, longer & taller than the ones we grew up with in the 1950s-70s - & they're a royal PITA to have to climb up into & down.

So there is a market for folks who want, need, desire a mid-size Truck/SUV which is TV capable.

My only point was that this was a thread started specifically for these 3 vehicles. I understand that you were imparting your extensive research & decision to go another way.

So I found your closing "panty wad" jab uncalled for & not in the spirit of camaraderie which Airforums is supposed to be about!

A quick update on our "issue". Hitch reinforcement is being installed by a local shop in Redwood City. Will report the results. Thank you Andy! We had a good talk last Monday morning. Canam has shipped a modified Easylift. Spare tire is gone. Li-ion batteries from amsolar (200Ah) are en route and will be installed next weekend (likely under the dinette compartment - thanks ohiobrits!). Goal is to be ready for the real maiden voyage over July 4: NV, UT, AZ; 2 weeks, 2500 miles. It will be interesting to see the difference in towing behavior, MPG (We did the same trip before with the 20ft FC), oil temp, and generally. The plan is to take it slow over the Sierras - Carson City, Area 51 to Kodachrome Basin which will be our base camp. The trailer is going to be about 2000 lbs heavier than our previous FC - but I think that I will still be at 20MPG by taking it easy (cruise at 62 miles). With the FC, I was, well, driving the Cayenne like it had nothing attached to it .

We have never done as much research for a vehicle as we did for the TV for our 2013 Int'l Sig 30FB.

Didn't like the pickup truck route, so we tried all the Euro-diesels & Jeep GC ecodiesel. Had a deposit on a GL-350, when I (the wife) reluctantly decided to bite the bullet and go look at a 2015 F150 EcoBoost. It had the most beautiful panoramic moonroof! It matched the Airstream! It not only had heated seats -- it had AIR-CONDITIONED seats! So much floor room in the back seat for our 2 littles. Not to mention the cool disco colors you can choose for the interior ambient lights.

Not to be all fluffy, the truck comes with awesome bells and whistles that make it super easy for towing our 30' AS -- integrated brake controller and exterior lights.

Ultimately, it was a joint decision to choose the TV, but DH wanted to be certain that I was happy with it and I love driving it! Never thought I'd be a Ford Truck Girl -- EVER!

Hi, I currently have 2008 Toyota Tundra pulling a 32' Holiday Rambler travel trailer. I am very interested in getting an Airstream Classic 30' model and was wondering if you have weighed your truck to see what the weight is with the trailer connected to see if it is over it's GVWR? I have found out that my Tundra is over the GVWR(7100 lbs.) if the tongue weight goes over 1000 lbs. That is with two people in the front, full gas tank and very little else in the truck. It can pull over 10000 lbs. and has a combined weight rating of a little over 17000 lbs., but the tongue weight is what puts it over my trucks GVWR of 7100 lbs. It seems like most of the Airstreams in the 27 to 34' category have tongue weights in the 700 to 900 lb. range with no cargo added. I am just curious if most of the Airstream owners are able to keep their tow vehicles within the GVWR without going to a 3/4 ton pickup. Thanks for the help.

Hi, I currently have 2008 Toyota Tundra pulling a 32' Holiday Rambler travel trailer. I am very interested in getting an Airstream Classic 30' model and was wondering if you have weighed your truck to see what the weight is with the trailer connected to see if it is over it's GVWR? I have found out that my Tundra is over the GVWR(7100 lbs.) if the tongue weight goes over 1000 lbs. That is with two people in the front, full gas tank and very little else in the truck. It can pull over 10000 lbs. and has a combined weight rating of a little over 17000 lbs., but the tongue weight is what puts it over my trucks GVWR of 7100 lbs. It seems like most of the Airstreams in the 27 to 34' category have tongue weights in the 700 to 900 lb. range with no cargo added. I am just curious if most of the Airstream owners are able to keep their tow vehicles within the GVWR without going to a 3/4 ton pickup. Thanks for the help.

OK .... and so it starts - the Cayenne/Taureg/Q7 topic hijacked by the other truck folks going off on a tangent.

While I really didn't mind Michelle posting about her truck rig after her exploring Euro-Deisels - & it is a really good looking rig & that is the new aluminum bodied F150 - it starts a whole new side tracked subject. Ergo my comment before.

We ask the same for the rest of you F150, Tundra, Dodge, Chevy/GM, Nissan, etc., etc. folks reading here to PLEASE find your own topics on your vehicles, or PM off of this topic about Cayennes/Tauregs/Q7s if you have an off-topic question or comment which comes up here.

Likewise, do the same courtesy on all of the posted topics on these forums.

It just makes them more useful to those reading, just as the F150 & Tundra topic starters would appreciate it if I & others don't hijack their threads with - "hey, do any of you Ford or Toyota types know anything about "X" on Porsche Cayennes?" on their topics.

It's really about common courtesy to all members, & not about "panties in wad" comments to someone old enough to be your parent or uncle or something when they're called on it!

On to C/T/Q on topic stuff ....

Knuff - looking forward to your feedback. Did CanAm send you the reinforcement pieces or is your local shop fabbing them?

You might want to PM member Francois who is the Porsche Master Tech who warned me about not attaching reinforcement to the rear suspension sub-frame to not damage it's mounting bushings. Welding to the sub-frame may also negate the warranty on your Cay-D, according to some dealer reps with whom I was speaking at our OC Porsche Club Concours on Sunday.

Perhaps there is a way that your local shop can attach to a uni-body structural hard-point under there, instead of welding to the sub-frame?

If you haven't read it yet, CanAm's website has Andy's test of the Cayenne Deisel pullin a similar rig to yours, which is linked in their CanAm website's "Hitch Hints" tab.

We're still looking for a nice used 2006-10 Cayenne S for our TV/3rd car.
... if only Porsche offered better paint colors for Cayennes - like that beautiful medium metallic blue on the new Macans!

I'd recommend doing this to a Cayenne after the warranty period anyways, why give them an excuse. But as discussed before there aren't enough used diesel cayenne around yet at decent prices.

I usually don't like pickup trucks, but the F150 in the picture is very nice. So far the 3.0TDI barely seems to notice the bambi is there. My Honda still wins points for visibility/scoot-ability/,maneuverability though.

I'm really impressed with the new decor for the 2016 Sport models. Particularly the change it makes in the look of the 22ft. I previously didn't like this layout much, but the new color white/tan/gloss,grey oak scheme really brightens it up. For a heavy user or couple who needs more space than the 16 but less than the full timing size of a 25/27/28ft I think this could be a good choice. Reduced tank sizes, but the 2000lbs lower weight and narrower front profile, a real bathroom and fixed bed, dinette,kitchen space and towability might be worth the trade off.